Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give financial assistance to farmers who are required to carry out arterial drainage works as a result of an improvement order under the Land Drainage (Scotland) Act 1958.

Ross Finnie: No financial assistance is currently available under the grant schemes administered by my department. The costs of such works included in improvement orders must be borne by the landowners or, if works are executed on behalf of ministers, costs are then recovered from the landowners. The cost of subsequent maintenance works also fall on the landowners.

Alcohol Misuse

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of a new "alcopop" called ROXXOF which is being marketed to young people as an aphrodisiac and whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding ROXXOF, its marketing and any contravention of the Portman Code of Practice and Advertising Standards Agency requirements.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: We are aware of this product and understand that Alcohol Focus Scotland have lodged an official complaint about it under the Portman Group's Code of Practice on the Naming, Packaging and Promotion of Alcoholic Drinks . The complaint will be looked at by an independent panel and we await the outcome of these considerations with interest.

Ambulance Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Ambulance Service will end completely the use of on-call working arrangements for staff in part-time stations.

Malcolm Chisholm: The conversion of ambulance stations from part-time to full-time working is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service. Factors which will inform the services decision include information about-patient care benefits, expected performance improvements, legal requirements, competing priorities and availability of resources.

Ambulance Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when Peterhead Ambulance Station will commence full-time working.

Malcolm Chisholm: I understand that the service is continuing to review the demand made upon, and performance achieved by, the Peterhead Ambulance Station taking into account other changes which may impact on services within the area. These include the impact on workload of the conversion of Fraserburgh station from part-time to full-time working last year, joint working initiatives with other health care providers and professionals in Grampian and the introduction of priority-based dispatch to the area at the end of this month.

Cancer

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the East Ayrshire Council area are being treated for cancers that could have been caused by radiation.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is not possible to identify patients currently undergoing treatment for cancer, nor is it possible to deduce how many cancers have been caused by exposure to ionising radiation.

Cancer

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the East Ayrshire Council area have died from cancer that may have been caused from radiation in each year since 1986.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is not possible to deduce how many cancer deaths have been caused by exposure to ionising radiation.

Cancer

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the causes of the pattern of cancer deaths in the East Ayrshire Council area have changed significantly since 1980.

Malcolm Chisholm: Since 1980 the population in the East Ayrshire Council areas has increased slightly while the number of cancer deaths has remained relatively stable.

  The following tables provide detail of the number of deaths for various cancers in the East Ayrshire Council area for the period 1980-2001.

  


Cancer Type 
  

Year of Diagnosis 
  



1980 
  

1981 
  

1982 
  

1983 
  

1984 
  

1985 
  

1986 
  

1987 
  

1988 
  

1989 
  

1990 
  



Head and Neck  
  

7 
  

8 
  

5 
  

5 
  

3 
  

8 
  

6 
  

5 
  

6 
  

5 
  

11 
  



Oesophagus  
  

8 
  

10 
  

17 
  

12 
  

11 
  

13 
  

10 
  

9 
  

11 
  

15 
  

19 
  



Stomach  
  

26 
  

42 
  

27 
  

21 
  

22 
  

23 
  

23 
  

23 
  

25 
  

18 
  

14 
  



Colorectal  
  

40 
  

47 
  

45 
  

38 
  

42 
  

38 
  

43 
  

36 
  

26 
  

32 
  

42 
  



Pancreas  
  

14 
  

10 
  

20 
  

17 
  

16 
  

12 
  

13 
  

19 
  

17 
  

18 
  

15 
  



Trachea, Bronchus and Lung  
  

76 
  

74 
  

93 
  

94 
  

97 
  

85 
  

96 
  

81 
  

87 
  

98 
  

100 
  



Breast  
  

29 
  

31 
  

21 
  

28 
  

25 
  

33 
  

20 
  

31 
  

18 
  

35 
  

29 
  



Cervix Uteri  
  

4 
  

8 
  

8 
  

4 
  

7 
  

6 
  

4 
  

5 
  

5 
  

10 
  

4 
  



Corpus Uteri  
  

- 
  

8 
  

2 
  

3 
  

3 
  

1 
  

5 
  

6 
  

3 
  

6 
  

2 
  



Ovary  
  

5 
  

9 
  

11 
  

4 
  

6 
  

8 
  

9 
  

6 
  

14 
  

10 
  

7 
  



Prostate  
  

10 
  

17 
  

11 
  

10 
  

6 
  

10 
  

10 
  

13 
  

7 
  

10 
  

17 
  



Kidney  
  

3 
  

2 
  

5 
  

2 
  

5 
  

4 
  

1 
  

4 
  

6 
  

12 
  

7 
  



Bladder  
  

6 
  

11 
  

14 
  

6 
  

11 
  

12 
  

16 
  

9 
  

7 
  

8 
  

11 
  



Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma  
  

5 
  

5 
  

8 
  

7 
  

7 
  

6 
  

8 
  

5 
  

7 
  

8 
  

12 
  



Leukaemias  
  

9 
  

6 
  

9 
  

10 
  

7 
  

8 
  

8 
  

10 
  

10 
  

9 
  

4 
  



All Malignant Neoplasms 
  

286 
  

335 
  

345 
  

296 
  

312 
  

326 
  

328 
  

319 
  

284 
  

338 
  

342 
  



  


Cancer Type 
  

1991 
  

1992 
  

1993 
  

1994 
  

1995 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

2001 
  



Head and Neck  
  

4 
  

8 
  

10 
  

6 
  

17 
  

7 
  

10 
  

8 
  

7 
  

5 
  

7 
  



Oesophagus  
  

20 
  

17 
  

15 
  

19 
  

12 
  

15 
  

24 
  

17 
  

28 
  

21 
  

14 
  



Stomach  
  

17 
  

22 
  

25 
  

20 
  

18 
  

14 
  

14 
  

16 
  

21 
  

17 
  

23 
  



Colorectal  
  

34 
  

37 
  

48 
  

30 
  

26 
  

40 
  

31 
  

43 
  

36 
  

32 
  

36 
  



Pancreas  
  

18 
  

16 
  

12 
  

13 
  

14 
  

17 
  

12 
  

11 
  

15 
  

14 
  

11 
  



Trachea, Bronchus and Lung  
  

102 
  

83 
  

103 
  

91 
  

94 
  

95 
  

98 
  

106 
  

116 
  

89 
  

98 
  



Breast  
  

25 
  

34 
  

25 
  

35 
  

25 
  

38 
  

30 
  

26 
  

34 
  

29 
  

25 
  



Cervix Uteri  
  

4 
  

1 
  

10 
  

3 
  

6 
  

5 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

7 
  

3 
  



Corpus Uteri  
  

- 
  

1 
  

1 
  

3 
  

2 
  

1 
  

5 
  

2 
  

5 
  

1 
  

3 
  



Ovary  
  

9 
  

3 
  

7 
  

9 
  

10 
  

10 
  

12 
  

7 
  

7 
  

15 
  

15 
  



Prostate  
  

12 
  

21 
  

18 
  

17 
  

16 
  

20 
  

9 
  

14 
  

17 
  

18 
  

27 
  



Kidney  
  

4 
  

6 
  

7 
  

6 
  

11 
  

8 
  

8 
  

7 
  

7 
  

9 
  

6 
  



Bladder  
  

13 
  

14 
  

10 
  

12 
  

11 
  

9 
  

18 
  

11 
  

9 
  

15 
  

10 
  



Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma  
  

9 
  

8 
  

9 
  

5 
  

11 
  

9 
  

13 
  

8 
  

6 
  

10 
  

9 
  



Leukaemias  
  

5 
  

12 
  

5 
  

8 
  

5 
  

8 
  

11 
  

6 
  

6 
  

11 
  

13 
  



All Malignant Neoplasms 
  

325 
  

333 
  

357 
  

332 
  

332 
  

347 
  

365 
  

359 
  

379 
  

353 
  

361 
  



  Source: Scottish Cancer Intelligence Unit, Information & Statistics Division, NHSScotland.

Cancer

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the Glasgow Springburn parliamentary constituency area died from cancer compared with the national average in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The table shows the observed number of deaths in the Glasgow Springburn parliamentary constituency area from all cancers compared with the national average, by year of death.

  


Year of Death 
  

Observed Number of Deaths1


National Average 
  2




1997 
  

392 
  

354 
  



1998 
  

485 
  

348 
  



1999 
  

425 
  

347 
  



2000 
  

414 
  

346 
  



2001 
  

410 
  

347 
  



  Source: General Register Office (Scotland) GRO(S).

  Notes:

  1. Observed number of deaths from all malignant neoplasms in the Glasgow Springburn parliamentary constituency.

  2. The national average is represented by the expected number of deaths. The expected number of deaths from all malignant neoplasms is calculated by applying the national death rates for all malignant neoplasms to the Glasgow Springburn population, taking into account the age distribution of the population.

Cancer

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to reduce the number of cancer deaths in the Glasgow Springburn parliamentary constituency area.

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to reduce the number of lung cancer deaths in the Glasgow Springburn parliamentary constituency area.

Malcolm Chisholm: Cancer in Scotland: Action for change sets out a variety of measures aimed at improving prevention, earlier detection and more rapid diagnosis and treatment for all cancers.

Cancer

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the Glasgow Springburn parliamentary constituency area died from lung cancer compared with the national average in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following table shows the observed number of deaths from cancer of the trachea, bronchus and lung in the Glasgow Springburn parliamentary constituency area compared with the national average:

  


Year of Death 
  

Observed Number of Deaths1


National Average2




1997 
  

140 
  

100 
  



1998 
  

170 
  

96 
  



1999 
  

157 
  

94 
  



2000 
  

146 
  

93 
  



2001 
  

139 
  

91 
  



  Source: General Register Office (Scotland) GRO(S).

  Notes:

  1. Observed number of deaths from lung cancer in the Glasgow Springburn parliamentary constituency.

  2. The national average is represented by the expected number of deaths. The expected number of deaths from lung cancer is calculated by applying the national death rates for lung cancer to the Glasgow Springburn population, taking into account the age distribution of the population.

Care of Elderly People

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of elderly people in the (a) East Ayrshire and (b) South Ayrshire local authority area received intensive home care in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information asked for is contained in the table, for the years 1998 to 2002 only. Data is not available for 1997. Please note that the percentages quoted are percentages of all recipients of home care, as it is not possible to split these figures by age group.

  Percentage of People in Receipt of Intensive Home Care1, 1998 to 2002.

  


Year 
  

East Ayrshire 
  

South Ayrshire 
  



2002 
  

26% 
  

37% 
  



2001 
  

24% 
  

51% 
  



2000 
  

21% 
  

28% 
  



1999 
  

23% 
  

22% 
  



1998 
  

20% 
  

20% 
  



  Source: SEHD:SWSU H1 Return.

  Note:

  1. Intensive home care is defined as greater than 10 hours care per week.

Charities

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports full implementation of the recommendations in the report of the Scottish Charity Law Commission including recommendations to modernise charity law and create a new definition of "public benefit", an independent regulator, a transparent register of charities and a single point for advice on charity law compliance.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is given in the Scottish Executives response to the report of the Scottish Charity Law Review Commission published on 16 December 2002, a copy of which is available in the Parliaments Reference Centre (Bib. number 25562).

Charities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce a charities bill.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make progress on the recommendations in the report of the Scottish Charity Law Review Commission report in advance of United Kingdom legislation on charities.

Mr Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-6565 on 6 March 2003, which is available on the Parliaments website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/search.htm.

Charities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will update the definition of charity as recommended in the report of the Scottish Charity Law Review Commission.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will change the charitable status of non-departmental public bodies.

Mr Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34609 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Domestic Abuse

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that all NHS managers are aware of the guidelines on domestic abuse.

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any further event is planned to ensure that the NHS guidelines on domestic abuse are properly disseminated following the announcement by the Minister for Health and Community Care on 10 March 2003.

Malcolm Chisholm: Responding to Domestic Abuse Guidelines for Health Care Workers in NHS Scotland has been widely distributed to all chief executives of boards and trusts, directors of nursing and midwifery, medical directors, directors of public health and other senior members of NHS staff in Local Health Care Co-operatives and Royal Colleges. Copies have also been issued to child health commissioners in NHS boards and to relevant non-NHS organisations. An electronic copy of the guidelines is available on both the Scottish Executive website and the SHOW (Scottish Health on the Web) website and the guidelines were publicised through the Health Department Bulletin, which is issued to senior staff in the NHS and partner organisations.

  The Scottish Executive will organise a national workshop in summer 2003 for NHS professionals and key partners, including NHS managers, to raise the profile of the guidelines further and enable stakeholders to consider how to achieve effective implementation.

Domestic Abuse

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will monitor the implementation of the NHS guidelines on domestic abuse.

Malcolm Chisholm: For monitoring purposes the Scottish Executive Health Department will include NHS boards' progress in responding effectively to domestic abuse in the NHS Performance Assessment Framework in 2004.

Drug Misuse

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it has undertaken, or plans to undertake, to tackle drug misuse in the (a) Edinburgh East and Musselburgh parliamentary constituency, (b) City of Edinburgh Council and (c) East Lothian Council area and how much has been allocated to each area for this purpose.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executives drugs strategy Tackling Drugs in Scotland: Action in Partnership  is backed by around 130 million in new resources for 2001-02 to 2003-04. All areas of Scotland have benefited from these additional resources in terms of new drug treatment and rehabilitation services, improved support for young people and families, improved treatment provision in prisons, more criminal justice interventions, strengthened enforcement activity, enhanced drugs education in schools and in the community and improved information on drugs.

  However, the planning and delivery of local activities and initiatives is the responsibility of local Drug Action Teams and partner agencies. Drug Action Teams are required to report to the Scottish Executive on actions undertaken and planned in their annual Corporate Action Plans. These can be found on the national drugs website at www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org. The plans show evidence of enhanced service provision in the areas requested, particularly in terms of services for vulnerable young people and the provision of training and employment opportunities for recovering drug users. A Drug Treatment and Testing Order also came into operation in the Edinburgh last year.

  Information on drug-related expenditure is not held on a constituency basis. The main components of drugs specific expenditure allocated to NHS boards and local authorities in the areas requested is outlined in the tables. The areas may also be benefiting from other resources which are not drug specific, but which impact on the problem.

  Drug Treatment

  


NHS Board 
  

2001-02
() 
  

2002-03
() 
  

2003-04
() 
  



Lothian 
  

3,214,237 
  

3,538,583 
  

3,538,583 
  



  Rehabilitation

  


Council Area 
  

2001-02
() 
  

2002-03
() 
  

2003-04
() 
  



Edinburgh City 
  

600,000 
  

600,000 
  

600,000 
  



East Lothian 
  

120,000 
  

120,000 
  

120,000 
  



  Drugs Education in Schools

  


Council Area 
  

2001-02
() 
  

2002-03
() 
  



Edinburgh City 
  

58,000 
  

58,000 
  



East Lothian 
  

17,725 
  

17,725 
  



  Changing Childrens Services Fund (for Work with Young People and Families)

  


Council Area 
  

2001-02 to 2003-04
() 
  



Edinburgh City 
  

1,219,000 
  



East Lothian 
  

225,000

Fertility Treatment

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many women have (a) received and (b) been refused fertility treatment in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally. Only the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) holds information, UK-wide, to minimise the possibility of patient identification.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to the rates relief scheme for the white fish industry announced on 11 March 2003.

Mr Andy Kerr: The maximum cost to the Executive is estimated at 1.8 million. The actual costs will depend on decisions made by local authorities on the applications for hardship relief.

Fisheries

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to assist the scallop fishing industry; whether it will make any announcement in connection with the scallop industry before the dissolution of the Parliament, and whether there will be any decision taken by the Food Standards Agency in relation to the industry and, if so, when it will be taken.

Ross Finnie: The Executive is committed to working with the scallop industry to protect scallop stocks and to explore the scope for new research in the context of amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP). The Scottish Scallop Advisory Committee, which includes representatives of the scallop industry, Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department, Fisheries Research Services and the Food Standards Agency, is making good progress with the identification and pursuit of appropriate research. We have also allocated Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance funds to an industry-led project to investigate scallop portion sizes in the EU. No final decision has yet been taken by Scottish ministers as to whether the proposed tiered regime for ASP will be implemented in Scotland.

Football

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has had in the issue of ground specifications for Scottish Premier League football clubs.

Dr Elaine Murray: The Scottish Premier League determines ground specifications for its member clubs having due regard to relevant legislation and governing body rules.

  However, through National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 11: Sport, Physical Recreation and Open Space published in June 1996, the Executive offers guidelines to the football authorities and others on the provision of stadia in the aftermath of the Hillsborough Stadium disaster. These guidelines relate to the provision of all-seater accommodation.

  In addition to this, The Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 requires any designated sports ground with a spectator capacity of more than 10,000 to have a safety certificate from the local authority.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what percentage of, emergency in-patients treated in the NHS in each of the last three years were over the age of 65.

Malcolm Chisholm: The number and percentage of emergency in-patients treated in NHSScotland over the age of 65 for the last three years are contained in the following table.

  

 

Number 
  

Percentage of Total1




Year Ending March 2000 
  

179,456 
  

38.3 % 
  



Year Ending March 2001 
  

179,306 
  

38.0 % 
  



Year Ending March 2002P


182,570 
  

38.3 %  
  



  Source: ISD Scotland, SMR01.

  PProvisional.

  Note:

  Percentage based on all emergency in-patients.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the Centre for Change and Innovations budget is for 2003-04, as referred to in chapter 5 of Partnership for Care: Scotlands Health White Paper .

Malcolm Chisholm: The Centre for Change and Innovations budget for 2003-04 is 12.8 million.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how Centre for Change and Innovation funding will be distributed to NHS boards, as referred to in chapter 5 of Partnership for Care: Scotlands Health White Paper .

Malcolm Chisholm: The Centre for Change and Innovations budget of 12.8 million will be used to fund national programmes which will be rolled out across NHSScotland. Where there is clear evidence of innovation within a board area, this may receive pump priming to pilot and evaluate change in service redesign before a programme is driven forward nationally by the Centre for Change and Innovation.

  All programmes are formally approved and monitored by the Scottish Health Change Panel reflecting the services demands for modernisation.

Health

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what specialist paediatric services are available for sufferers of Severs disease in (a) Scotland and (b) the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency, detailing the level of service each individual unit can provide.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is available from NHS boards and trusts whose responsibility it is to ensure that there is a range of services in place that best meets the needs of their local population.

Health

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for a wheelchair not being provided to a 12-year-old resident of the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency suffering severe debilitation from Severs disease in both feet and receiving treatment at Monklands Hospital.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is an operational matter for Lanarkshire NHS Board. The board has undertaken to investigate this matter on receipt of written details from the member, with your constituents consent.

Health

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients in the Glasgow Springburn parliamentary constituency area were diagnosed with coronary heart disease compared with the national average in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The data requested are presented in the following table and show new cases treated in hospital who were recorded with a diagnosis of coronary heart disease on discharge:

  Coronary Heart Disease in Scotland1; New Cases2,3 Treated in Hospital by Area of Residence and Year Ending 31 March: 1998-2002

  Number, Rate Per 100,000 Population4,5

  





1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

2001 
  

2002 
  



Scotland 
  



New Cases2,3


17,004 
  

17,077 
  

16,053 
  

15,879 
  

15,523 
  



Crude Rate2,3,4


331.9 
  

333.5 
  

313.6 
  

310.5 
  

306.5 
  



Glasgow Springburn Parliamentary 
  Constituency Area 
  



New Cases2,3


309 
  

272 
  

275 
  

265 
  

265 
  



Crude Rate2,3,5


442.0 
  

389.1 
  

393.4 
  

379.1 
  

379.1 
  



  Notes:

  1. This information was extracted from the SMR01 linked dataset maintained by ISD Scotland. The diagnosis codes used are based on the International Classification of Diseases (10th Revision) I20-I25.

  2. New cases treated in hospital (includes only those patients resident in Scotland at time of diagnosis).

  3. New hospital cases are identified by searching back to 1981 to include only those patients with no prior admission for coronary heart disease.

  4. Rates based on mid-year population estimates crude rate does not adjust for age profile.

  5. Rates based on 1991 census crude rate does not adjust for age profile.

Health

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to reduce the number of patients who suffer from coronary heart disease in the Glasgow Springburn parliamentary constituency area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke: Strategy for Scotland published in October 2002 highlights the importance of primary prevention measures in tackling the burden of coronary heart disease in Scotland. Improving Health is also a key theme in our recent white paper Partnership for Care , which stresses the need to tackle health inequalities in partnership with local communities. Community Planning Partnerships will play a pivotal role in delivering health improvement for communities such as Springburn. This theme is developed in Improving Health in Scotland The Challenge , published on 17 March, which sets out our new, focused approach to health improvement initiatives across the Executive as a whole.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital-acquired infections there have been in each hospital in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much expenditure has been set aside for New Housing Partnership (NHP) challenge funding and (a) what level of and (b) to whom such funding was distributed in each year for which it has been available.

Ms Margaret Curran: The NHP challenge funding made available to councils in the 1998 and 1999 bidding rounds covered a wide range of projects. These were categorised as regeneration and development projects and transfer and feasibility projects.

  The information on resources earmarked for each council and the spend for each complete year to date is set out in the table.

  


Council 
  

Total NHP Resources Earmarked 
  

Outturn 1998-99 
  

Outturn 1999-2000 
  

Outturn 2000-01 
  

Outturn 2001-02 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

1,213,228 
  

143,000 
  

202,000 
  

390,020 
  

446,208 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

6,934,680 
  

65,000 
  

1,028,490 
  

2,105,021 
  

3,412,410 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

270,000 
  

0 
  

95,000 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

880,000 
  

780,000 
  

79,025 
  

7,224 
  

13,750 
  



Comharlie nan Eilean Siar 
  

898,005 
  

21,000 
  

52,405 
  

122,250 
  

134,600 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

4,013,000 
  

100,000 
  

349,994 
  

1,125,425 
  

2,491,000 
  



Dundee City 
  

26,004,000 
  

712,000 
  

1,808,315 
  

7,916,532 
  

12,368,349 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

1,260,967 
  

1,260,967 
  

0 
  

0 
  

0 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

9,054,500 
  

318,000 
  

172,249 
  

379,587 
  

427,100 
  



East Lothian 
  

10,697,000 
  

1,919,759 
  

1,244,316 
  

1,783,850 
  

2,720,000 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

125,000 
  

25,000 
  

16,862 
  

80,000 
  

0 
  



City of Edinburgh 
  

56,943,192 
  

6,048,532 
  

8,300,042 
  

12,967,598 
  

8,130,400 
  



Falkirk 
  

200,000 
  

0 
  

190,000 
  

0 
  

0 
  



Fife 
  

6,125,000 
  

96,000 
  

133,580 
  

0 
  

433,331 
  



Glasgow City 
  

85,023,000 
  

6,880,000 
  

7,989,000 
  

11,318,289 
  

18,652,900 
  



Highland 
  

8,045,855 
  

916,000 
  

1,347,990 
  

2,994,058 
  

2,256,533 
  



Inverclyde 
  

385,233 
  

0 
  

43,900 
  

74,200 
  

39,640 
  



Midlothian 
  

154,000 
  

0 
  

0 
  

139,000 
  

15,000 
  



Moray 
  

12,590,000 
  

8,000 
  

905,640 
  

838,707 
  

1,629,336 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

3,045,500 
  

78,000 
  

473,447 
  

5,445 
  

1,077,477 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

12,586,000 
  

4,525,429 
  

4,503,630 
  

2,238,375 
  

1,261,400 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

563,000 
  

0 
  

99,500 
  

0 
  

67,046 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

729,000 
  

74,000 
  

66,000 
  

5,872 
  

231,710 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

2,919,330 
  

93,000 
  

19,457 
  

525,267 
  

977,154 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

5,194,798 
  

83,000 
  

369,298 
  

767,000 
  

2,989,600 
  



Shetland 
  

1,127,000 
  

200,000 
  

104,792 
  

147,251 
  

441,257 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

197,000 
  

0 
  

121,113 
  

75,886 
  

0 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

8,917,000 
  

825,000 
  

1,636,700 
  

1,326,112 
  

2,947,897 
  



Stirling 
  

9,058,000 
  

4,000 
  

1,572,212 
  

2,935,461 
  

1,411,091 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

115,000 
  

11,000 
  

0 
  

70,000 
  

0 
  



West Lothian 
  

11,179,500 
  

2,087,000 
  

2,143,000 
  

1,585,678 
  

2,487,037 
  



Total 
  

286,447,788 
  

27,273,687 
  

35,067,957 
  

51,924,108 
  

67,062,226

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much private finance has been levered in during each year of the New Housing Partnership (NHP) initiative.

Ms Margaret Curran: The NHP challenge funding made available to councils in the 1998 and 1999 bidding rounds covered a wide range of projects. These were categorised as regeneration and development projects and transfer and feasibility projects.

  A total of some 175 million of private finance is expected to be generated by approved regeneration and development projects. The amount of private finance generated in each complete year to date is as follows.

  

 

 Million 
  



1999-2000 
  

11.036 
  



2000-01 
  

24.266 
  



2001-02 
  

29.65 
  



  It is estimated that a further 110 million of private finance will be generated in completing the approved regeneration and development projects. In addition, the whole stock transfers already completed in Glasgow and Scottish Borders, and likely to be completed shortly in Dumfries and Galloway, will generate private finance of around 1 billion.

Housing

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many tenants have benefited from the New Housing Partnership (NHP) initiative through new or improved housing in each year of the partnerships existence.

Ms Margaret Curran: The NHP challenge funding made available to councils in the 1998 and 1999 bidding rounds covered a wide range of projects. These were categorised as regeneration and development projects and transfer and feasibility projects.

  Some 9,600 new and improved units are expected to be delivered through approved regeneration and development projects. The number of new and improved units provided in each complete year to date is as follows.

  


1999-2000 
  

920 
  



2000-01 
  

1,409 
  



2001-02 
  

1,379 
  



  These figures include both housing for rent and low cost home ownership. In addition, the whole stock transfers already completed in Glasgow and Scottish Borders, and likely to be completed shortly in Dumfries and Galloway, will generate investment in a further 100,000 homes.

Libraries

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on levels of internet usage arising from internet access in public libraries in East Dunbartonshire.

Des McNulty: In a recent survey for the three-month period July to September 2002, 10,750 hours of internet use were recorded at libraries in East Dunbartonshire.

  However, the provision of public internet access in libraries has increased significantly in East Dunbartonshire over the last few months. By 31 March 2003 the Peoples Network will have completed roll-out in East Dunbartonshire. Free broadband internet access and computer use will be available in all eight libraries, from a total of 63 computers.

  Bishopbriggs Library is currently undergoing refurbishment and will re-open in May 2003.

Local Government Finance

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the grant-aided expenditure settlement has been for each local authority since 1996-97, showing the percentage change year on year.

Mr Andy Kerr: The following tables show the general revenue grant settlement allocations, with percentage increases, for all councils since 1996-97.

  


Councils 
  

1996-97
( Million) 
  

1997-98
( Million) 
  

Change
(%) 
  

1998-99
( Million) 
  

Change
(%) 
  

1999-2000
( Million) 
  

Change
(%) 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

196.10 
  

190.33 
  

-2.9 
  

185.89 
  

-2.3 
  

192.48 
  

3.5 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

200.21 
  

202.76 
  

1.3 
  

205.39 
  

1.3 
  

213.11 
  

3.8 
  



Angus 
  

99.68 
  

101.92 
  

2.2 
  

104.52 
  

2.5 
  

108.76 
  

4.1 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

110.05 
  

108.04 
  

-1.8 
  

107.73 
  

-0.3 
  

110.88 
  

2.9 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

46.93 
  

46.51 
  

-0.9 
  

46.66 
  

0.3 
  

48.43 
  

3.8 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

151.82 
  

151.51 
  

-0.2 
  

152.47 
  

0.6 
  

159.72 
  

4.8 
  



Dundee City 
  

169.96 
  

168.56 
  

-0.8 
  

167.50 
  

-0.6 
  

174.02 
  

3.9 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

123.76 
  

118.54 
  

-4.2 
  

122.86 
  

3.6 
  

126.16 
  

2.7 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

93.19 
  

88.14 
  

-5.4 
  

90.69 
  

2.9 
  

97.12 
  

7.1 
  



East Lothian 
  

78.76 
  

79.66 
  

1.1 
  

79.00 
  

-0.8 
  

83.32 
  

5.5 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

71.42 
  

69.37 
  

-2.9 
  

71.51 
  

3.1 
  

77.57 
  

8.5 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

400.84 
  

408.48 
  

1.9 
  

408.89 
  

0.1 
  

426.16 
  

4.2 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

67.13 
  

66.89 
  

-0.4 
  

68.58 
  

2.5 
  

70.42 
  

2.7 
  



Falkirk 
  

130.82 
  

130.68 
  

-0.1 
  

133.23 
  

2.0 
  

136.31 
  

2.3 
  



Fife 
  

333.81 
  

330.02 
  

-1.1 
  

328.92 
  

-0.3 
  

344.53 
  

4.7 
  



Glasgow City 
  

829.58 
  

781.38 
  

-5.8 
  

788.62 
  

0.9 
  

813.29 
  

3.1 
  



Highland 
  

242.38 
  

238.55 
  

-1.6 
  

238.29 
  

-0.1 
  

249.88 
  

4.9 
  



Inverclyde 
  

101.85 
  

96.80 
  

-5.0 
  

96.50 
  

-0.3 
  

98.39 
  

2.0 
  



Midlothian 
  

78.28 
  

76.00 
  

-2.9 
  

77.39 
  

1.8 
  

80.53 
  

4.1 
  



Moray 
  

86.08 
  

85.80 
  

-0.3 
  

85.05 
  

-0.9 
  

89.04 
  

4.7 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

138.45 
  

134.96 
  

-2.5 
  

137.02 
  

1.5 
  

143.56 
  

4.8 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

334.01 
  

314.54 
  

-5.8 
  

319.86 
  

1.7 
  

333.93 
  

4.4 
  



Orkney 
  

37.98 
  

38.21 
  

0.6 
  

39.51 
  

3.4 
  

40.42 
  

2.3 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

115.38 
  

116.30 
  

0.8 
  

121.35 
  

4.3 
  

126.93 
  

4.6 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

175.95 
  

166.49 
  

-5.4 
  

168.18 
  

1.0 
  

177.33 
  

5.4 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

110.14 
  

109.45 
  

-0.6 
  

109.65 
  

0.2 
  

115.01 
  

4.9 
  



Shetland 
  

48.23 
  

55.86 
  

15.8 
  

55.98 
  

0.2 
  

57.13 
  

2.0 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

107.16 
  

104.91 
  

-2.1 
  

105.60 
  

0.7 
  

112.25 
  

6.3 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

302.25 
  

286.34 
  

-5.3 
  

286.19 
  

-0.1 
  

302.87 
  

5.8 
  



Stirling 
  

84.20 
  

85.67 
  

1.7 
  

83.79 
  

-2.2 
  

88.86 
  

6.0 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

114.89 
  

106.07 
  

-7.7 
  

105.61 
  

-0.4 
  

110.15 
  

4.3 
  



West Lothian 
  

147.62 
  

147.25 
  

-0.3 
  

149.30 
  

1.4 
  

156.25 
  

4.7 
  



Scotland 
  

5,328.91 
  

5,205.97 
  

-2.3 
  

5,241.71 
  

0.7 
  

5,464.85 
  

4.3 
  



  Note:

  As well as changes in base distribution data, such as population shares, councils relative grant allocations between years also reflect transfers of responsibility between central and local government; for example the transfer outwith general revenue grant of responsibility for 105 million of grant support for the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority from 1997-98, 57.6 million for the Urban Programme in 2000-01, and the agreed phasing out of transitional arrangements following local government reorganisation in 1996-97.

  


Councils 
  

2000-01
( Million) 
  

Change
(%) 
  

2001-02
( Million) 
  

Change
(%) 
  

2002-03
( Million) 
  

Change
(%) 
  

2003-04
( Million) 
  

Change
(%) 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

200.27 
  

4.0 
  

213.87 
  

6.8 
  

240.85 
  

12.6 
  

261.42 
  

8.5 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

216.82 
  

1.7 
  

234.90 
  

8.3 
  

265.48 
  

13.0 
  

290.11 
  

9.3 
  



Angus 
  

110.53 
  

1.6 
  

118.10 
  

6.9 
  

135.17 
  

14.5 
  

147.44 
  

9.1 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

113.52 
  

2.4 
  

121.88 
  

7.4 
  

136.67 
  

12.1 
  

149.06 
  

9.1 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

49.43 
  

2.1 
  

53.77 
  

8.8 
  

59.81 
  

11.2 
  

65.45 
  

9.4 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

163.93 
  

2.6 
  

176.68 
  

7.8 
  

197.41 
  

11.7 
  

215.78 
  

9.3 
  



Dundee City 
  

178.76 
  

2.7 
  

191.44 
  

7.1 
  

211.99 
  

10.7 
  

228.60 
  

7.8 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

130.85 
  

3.7 
  

139.25 
  

6.4 
  

155.26 
  

11.5 
  

168.27 
  

8.4 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

97.95 
  

0.9 
  

107.47 
  

9.7 
  

120.78 
  

12.4 
  

132.32 
  

9.6 
  



East Lothian 
  

85.58 
  

2.7 
  

91.22 
  

6.6 
  

103.43 
  

13.4 
  

113.66 
  

9.9 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

80.29 
  

3.5 
  

88.62 
  

10.4 
  

100.96 
  

13.9 
  

109.87 
  

8.8 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

431.04 
  

1.1 
  

458.07 
  

6.3 
  

518.23 
  

13.1 
  

564.87 
  

9.0 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

72.05 
  

2.3 
  

76.02 
  

5.5 
  

80.90 
  

6.4 
  

85.98 
  

6.3 
  



Falkirk 
  

145.06 
  

6.4 
  

159.54 
  

10.0 
  

177.59 
  

11.3 
  

193.41 
  

8.9 
  



Fife 
  

352.67 
  

2.4 
  

379.53 
  

7.6 
  

420.99 
  

10.9 
  

462.74 
  

9.9 
  



Glasgow City 
  

830.04 
  

2.1 
  

895.25 
  

7.9 
  

975.33 
  

8.9 
  

1,040.03 
  

6.6 
  



Highland 
  

254.55 
  

1.9 
  

273.99 
  

7.6 
  

309.34 
  

12.9 
  

333.97 
  

8.0 
  



Inverclyde 
  

101.02 
  

2.7 
  

107.37 
  

6.3 
  

119.28 
  

11.1 
  

129.75 
  

8.8 
  



Midlothian 
  

81.80 
  

1.6 
  

90.03 
  

10.1 
  

99.29 
  

10.3 
  

109.91 
  

10.7 
  



Moray 
  

90.23 
  

1.3 
  

97.45 
  

8.0 
  

107.88 
  

10.7 
  

117.97 
  

9.4 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

149.21 
  

3.9 
  

161.06 
  

7.9 
  

179.10 
  

11.2 
  

194.59 
  

8.6 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

345.87 
  

3.6 
  

374.87 
  

8.4 
  

413.12 
  

10.2 
  

447.68 
  

8.4 
  



Orkney 
  

40.31 
  

-0.3 
  

43.12 
  

7.0 
  

46.21 
  

7.2 
  

49.41 
  

6.9 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

130.05 
  

2.5 
  

139.11 
  

7.0 
  

159.05 
  

14.3 
  

175.18 
  

10.1 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

185.70 
  

4.7 
  

198.11 
  

6.7 
  

220.04 
  

11.1 
  

241.05 
  

9.5 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

118.49 
  

3.0 
  

126.32 
  

6.6 
  

143.42 
  

13.5 
  

156.64 
  

9.2 
  



Shetland 
  

58.21 
  

1.9 
  

62.22 
  

6.9 
  

66.18 
  

6.4 
  

70.74 
  

6.9 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

112.21 
  

0.0 
  

119.80 
  

6.8 
  

135.64 
  

13.2 
  

147.43 
  

8.7 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

313.72 
  

3.6 
  

338.60 
  

7.9 
  

377.27 
  

11.4 
  

408.28 
  

8.2 
  



Stirling 
  

89.68 
  

0.9 
  

98.08 
  

9.4 
  

110.85 
  

13.0 
  

120.91 
  

9.1 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

112.85 
  

2.5 
  

123.78 
  

9.7 
  

135.50 
  

9.5 
  

146.60 
  

8.2 
  



West Lothian 
  

158.93 
  

1.7 
  

170.50 
  

7.3 
  

189.43 
  

11.1 
  

206.73 
  

9.1 
  



Scotland 
  

5,601.60 
  

2.5 
  

6,030.03 
  

7.6 
  

6,712.46 
  

11.3 
  

7,285.82 
  

8.5

NHS Staff

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS trusts do not make any allowances in their staffing establishments for sickness and absence levels.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The information requested is not held centrally.

NHS Staff

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS trusts have a shortfall between the number of employees and the actual full-time establishment in both nursing and ancillary areas and what any such shortfalls are, broken down by trust.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Information on the number of employees and the full-time establishment for nursing in each NHS trust is available in table E17 on the ISD website:

  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/NHSiS_resource/Workforce/workforce_statistics.htm

  The information requested on the full-time establishment for ancillary staff is not available centrally.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25950 by Mr Jim Wallace on 17 May 2002, why it discontinued its key ministerial target for the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) relating to the number of injuries reportable to the Health and Safety Executive.

Mr Jim Wallace: The action was taken because it was becoming apparent that the target introduced in 2000-01 was no longer a reliable indicator of performance. Moreover, targets had been introduced by the Health and Safety Commission in their publication Revitalising Health and Safety launched by the Deputy Prime Minister in June 2000, and it was decided to align the SPSs method of accident reporting in future years against these targets.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what training in preparation for freedom is available for inmates at HM Prison Polmont.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Long-term young adults receive training in preparation for freedom through the Beechwood Unit (Open Facility within Polmont YOI). The training includes preparation for work through community-based placements and throughcare supports such as budgeting for their own food and belongings, assistance with job applications, and cooking their own meals in advance of independent living.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements it makes to secure employment for persons leaving HM Prison Polmont.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Depending on sentence length and assessed needs, young adults are offered a range of employment supports including job interviews, CV preparation, literacies assistance, and building self-esteem. Links are also made with Apex Scotland, Job Centre Plus and individual employers to maximise chances of securing and retaining full, part-time and voluntary employment.

Public Private Partnerships

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-34332 by Mr Andy Kerr on 11 March 2003, whether it will give details of each of the 12 projects in negotiation and the 28 further projects in health, schools and waste management.

Mr Andy Kerr: Details of Public Private Partnership projects in Scotland can be found in the Project List on the Financial Partnerships Units website (www.scotland.gov.uk/fpu then select "Project List" from the menu down the left-hand side of the home page). Since question S1W-34332 was answered, the Project List has been updated, primarily for health projects, and the total number of projects included up to the negotiation stage has risen from 40 to 42 (13 at the tenders stage and 29 at the stage of being advertised or potential).

Road Accidents

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many charges of causing death by dangerous driving under section 1 of the Road Traffic Act 1991 have (a) been recorded by the police and (b) proceeded to court and how many of the cases that proceeded to court have been proven, showing, in respect of the sentence passed, the number of (i) disposals for a custodial sentence and (ii) other disposals in each year since 1999.

Mr Jim Wallace: The available information is given in the following table. The statistics on crimes recorded by the police and on court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime, and a crime may be recorded in one year and proceedings taken in a subsequent year. Charges recorded by the police may also be altered as a result of the judicial process.

  Causing Death by Dangerous Driving: Crimes Recorded by the Police and Persons Proceeded Against, 1999-2001

  

 

1999 
  

2000 
  

2001 
  



Crimes Recorded by the Police 
  

34 
  

35 
  

32 
  



Persons Proceeded Against 
  in Court1




Total 
  

26 
  

14 
  

21 
  



Charge Proved by Sentence 
  Type 
  



Total 
  

22 
  

11 
  

20 
  



Custody 
  

11 
  

5 
  

12 
  



Other 
  

11 
  

6 
  

8 
  



  Note:

  1. Where the crime was the main crime.

Scottish Executive Advertising

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of its advertising committed in 2002-03 will be paid for by the 2003-04 budget.

Mr Andy Kerr: Nil.

Scottish Executive Equipment

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the value of its computer systems (a) was at the time of purchase and (b) is now.

Mr Andy Kerr: The value of the computer systems owned by the Scottish Executive is reported in the Scottish Executive Consolidated Resource Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2002. Note 6a records the value of information and communication technology systems both at purchase cost (107 million) and net value (25 million) as at 31 March 2002. Note 6b records the computer software which was purchased for 39 million and was currently valued at 21 million.

Scottish Executive Equipment

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive over what period it depreciates the asset value of its (a) vehicles, (b) computer hardware, (c) bespoke computer software, (d) standard computer software, (e) furniture and (f) telecommunications equipment.

Mr Andy Kerr: The policy on depreciation is provided in note 1.4 of the Scottish Executive Consolidated Resource Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2002.

  The Scottish Executive depreciates the asset values over the following periods:

  (a) vehicles five to 10 years;

  (b) computer hardware three to five years;

  (c) bespoke computer software five to seven years;

  (d) standard computer software three to five years;

  (e) furniture 10 years, and

  (f) telecommunications equipment three to seven years.

Scottish Executive Property

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the value of its property interests is.

Mr Andy Kerr: The value of the property interests for the Scottish Executive is reported in the Scottish Executive Consolidated Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2002. Note 6a records the net value of land and buildings as 1,053 million.

Scottish Executive Property

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how frequently it restates the asset values of its building estate.

Mr Andy Kerr: The policy on restating asset values of its building estate is reported in Note 1.3 in the Scottish Executive Consolidated Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2002.

  Freehold land and buildings have been restated at open market value for existing use or depreciated replacement cost for specialised buildings under a rolling five-year programme of professional valuations and appropriate indices in intervening years.

Sport

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available for skateboarding.

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available for roller-blading.

Dr Elaine Murray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34555 on 17 March 2003. Facilities provided for skateboarders are usually accessible to those wishing to roller-blade or ride BMX bikes. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Student Finance

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people living in the (a) City of Edinburgh and (b) East Lothian council area have received (i) education maintenance allowances, (ii) young students bursaries and (iii) young students outside Scotland bursaries in each year since 2001, broken down by (1) gender, (2) race and (3) disability.

Iain Gray: Currently, there are no young people in City of Edinburgh or East Lothian receiving Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs). EMAs are being piloted in four local authorities East Ayrshire, Dundee, Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire. National rollout of EMAs will commence in academic year 2004-05.

  For session 2000-01, the total number of students under 18 who were assisted by young students bursaries in FE (all colleges) was 14,630. Figures are not yet available from the Scottish Further Education Funding Council (SFEFC) for session 2001-02 or the current session 2002-03. Information on the numbers receiving the young students bursary is not held centrally at the required level of disaggregation.

  Individual local authorities are responsible for bursaries for young students outside Scotland. Data are not held centrally.

Teachers

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it can and will take to ensure that local authorities comply with the McCrone agreement in relation to promoted posts for teachers.

Nicol Stephen: The new promoted post structure is detailed in the agreement A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century . The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers a tripartite body with representatives from local authorities, teacher organisations and the Scottish Executive is responsible for the implementation of the agreement.

  The agreement also provides for local bargaining and the responsibility for staffing structures is devolved to the local level. Within the framework provided by the agreement, it is for local authorities to decide what staffing structures best suit their local needs.

Trade

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8569 by Nicol Stephen on 14 August 2000, what recent assessments it has made of the impact on its responsibilities of the World Trade Organisation.

Iain Gray: The regulation of international trade is a reserved matter and as such the UK Government take the lead on this issue. However, the Scottish Executive maintains close contact with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other UK Government Departments on trade issues including assessing the potential impact of the WTO on its responsibilities.

  The Executive is currently working with DTI on the current WTO negotiations on the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and the UK position on the initial EC offer to ensure that Scottish interests are considered.

Vaccines

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to expand illness prevention initiatives, such as flu vaccination schemes, in order to include care providers.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises all UK health departments on issues relating to vaccination and immunisation, based on currently available scientific evidence.

  Last year, the committee considered whether carers should be offered immunisation against influenza routinely each year. However, it concluded that there was insufficient medical evidence to incorporate this group into those currently targeted as at risk against the complications of influenza in this years policy.

  Ultimately, however, the final decision as to who should be offered immunisation is a matter for the patient's medical practitioner who should take into account the risk of influenza infection exacerbating the underlying disease as well as the risk of serious illness from influenza.

Youth Crime

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in developing the secure estate following the announcement that five providers had been invited to adapt their plans to meet the geographical spread of places that it requires.

Cathy Jamieson: The Executives Action Plan to reduce Youth Crime stated our intention to reconfigure the secure accommodation available across Scotland. Our objectives were to develop additional places for girls, to provide a better geographical spread and to introduce a wider variety of provision, which meets the needs of young people.

  We have now received and evaluated proposals from the five providers to help develop these objectives.

  In principle, subject to financial, value for money and other details being agreed, I am inviting four of the providers to develop the secure estate as follows:

  Kibble School 18 secure places (boys only);

  St Philips School 18 secure places with six close support (mixed provision);

  Good Shepherd 12 secure and 12 close support. (girls only), and

  Kerelaw School 12 secure (six boys only, six girls only) and 12 close support (mixed provision).

  The provision at Kerelaw will replace the existing secure provision. The other provision will be new.

  In addition, I have concluded that there is a need for 18 secure places in the north-east. Discussions are continuing with Rossie School to consider how this can best be achieved.

  We will provide grants to the successful providers to cover a substantial proportion of the capital costs.

  This proposal will increase the number of secure places in Scotland from 96 to 125: the 78 newly built secure places that will result from this proposal, together with the total of 47 places already available on four other sites: St Marys Kenmure (31); The Elms, Dundee (4); Howdenhall (5) and St Katherines (7), both Edinburgh. Once these developments are complete, all secure accommodation will be new or recently renovated to meet modern standards.

  This development will also result in an additional 30 close support places. Together with approximately 75 new intensive support and supervision places that are being funded through the Intensive Support Fund, this will provide a greatly improved range of residential options to meet the needs of our most troubled and troublesome young people.